Reintroducing siphoned sand

rayadog

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I have about a pound or two, maybe even three pounds, of sand that’s inevitably been siphoned out of my tank while cleaning; on account of cyano, algae or something other.

I was thinking I’d bleach it in tap water and rinse with rodi after bleach was neutralized. Then I figure I could bag it in decent but small portions and throw it in the sump for a few weeks before trying to sneak it back into the main.

Does this sound like a fair plan? Is there something I might be overlooking?
 

bartels99

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I have about a pound or two, maybe even three pounds, of sand that’s inevitably been siphoned out of my tank while cleaning; on account of cyano, algae or something other.

I was thinking I’d bleach it in tap water and rinse with rodi after bleach was neutralized. Then I figure I could bag it in decent but small portions and throw it in the sump for a few weeks before trying to sneak it back into the main.

Does this sound like a fair plan? Is there something I might be overlooking?
I would be hesitant using bleach, too hard to neutralize, I prefer vinegar for soaking aquarium stuff.
 
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rayadog

rayadog

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Guess it is a bit over kill. Thanks!

I would be hesitant using bleach, too hard to neutralize, I prefer vinegar for soaking aquarium stuff.
I was figuring I’d neutralize it with a nice sunny day.
 

ShakeyGizzard

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Best to use 3% peroxide, it will remove organic material and sterilize the sand at the same time, overnight soak then i would use tap water that has been chlorine (bleach) removed with a name brand remover
 
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rayadog

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Best to use 3% peroxide, it will remove organic material and sterilize the sand at the same time, overnight soak then i would use tap water that has been chlorine (bleach) removed with a name brand remover
Ah definitely a better idea. Appreciate it
 

Fish Fan

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Beach is easy to neutralize, simply allowing it to dry out inactivates it, as does sunshine, or you could overdose with a dechlor or even use sodium thisulfate, which is the active ingredient in dechlorinators.

I've bleach rocks a few times doing something like this:

Now, I'm not saying that you have to bleach that sand, but you could if you wanted to 🙂

You could simply rinse the nasties off, and run it in your dark sump for a while, that should seed it with bacteria and stave out any photosynthetic pests too.
 
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Beach is easy to neutralize, simply allowing it to dry out inactivates it, as does sunshine, or you could overdose with a dechlor or even use sodium thisulfate, which is the active ingredient in dechlorinators.

I've bleach rocks a few times doing something like this:

Now, I'm not saying that you have to bleach that sand, but you could if you wanted to 🙂

You could simply rinse the nasties off, and run it in your dark sump for a while, that should seed it with bacteria and stave out any photosynthetic pests too.
Yea basically wanted to clean it and then seed it before reintroducing to light.
 

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